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Dr Harsh Shah - GI & HPB Oncosurgeon in India
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Pancreatic cancer awareness month

November is Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month

November is Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month. It’s a month full of care and love for those who need it. The Purple-colored ribbon brings awareness and support to pancreatic cancer.
Learn More
About Dr. Shah

Importance of Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month

Every year, about 8.2 lakhs of people die from cancer, and 4 lakhs of them die prematurely. Pancreatic cancer, the 7th most common cause of cancer-related death, doesn’t get enough attention, and not many people know about it. The lack of funds and the idea that pancreatic cancer is hard to treat have kept survival rates (which are 3-8%) from improving for almost 50 years.

November is Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month

Pancreatic cancer awareness month
November is Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month. It’s a month full of care and love for those who need it. The Purple-colored ribbon brings awareness and support to pancreatic cancer.
Learn More
About Dr. Shah

Importance of Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month

Every year, about 8.2 lakhs of people die from cancer, and 4 lakhs of them die prematurely. Pancreatic cancer, the 7th most common cause of cancer-related death, doesn’t get enough attention, and not many people know about it. The lack of funds and the idea that pancreatic cancer is hard to treat have kept survival rates (which are 3-8%) from improving for almost 50 years.

What is pancreatic cancer?

Pancreas Cancer
Pancreatic cancer is a cancer that begins in the pancreas, a gland that produces digestive enzymes and hormones, including insulin. Pancreatic cancer is one of the most aggressive types of cancer, and it is often difficult to detect and treat in the early stages.

What is pancreatic cancer?

Pancreatic cancer is a cancer that begins in the pancreas, a gland that produces digestive enzymes and hormones, including insulin. Pancreatic cancer is one of the most aggressive types of cancer, and it is often difficult to detect and treat in the early stages.
Pancreas Cancer

What are the locations of pancreatic cancer?

Pancreatic cancer can occur anywhere in the pancreas, but it is most common in the head of the pancreas. The head of the pancreas is the part of the pancreas that is closest to the duodenum, the first part of the small intestine.
locations of pancreatic cancer - Pancreas head tumour
locations of pancreatic cancer-Pancreas Body tumour
Other locations of pancreatic cancer include:
⦿ The body of the pancreas
⦿ The tail of the pancreas
⦿ The islets of Langerhans, clusters of cells in the pancreas that produce insulin and other hormones
Pancreatic cancer can also spread to other organs in the body, such as the liver, lungs, and bones.

What are the symptoms of pancreatic cancer?

Signs and Symptoms of Pancreatic Cancer
Early pancreatic cancer often does not cause any symptoms. However, as the cancer grows, it may cause symptoms such as:
 
⦿ Upper abdominal pain
⦿ Jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes)
⦿ Weight loss
⦿ Fatigue
⦿ Changes in appetite
⦿ Nausea and vomiting
⦿ Back pain

What are the risk factors of pancreatic cancer?

The risk factors for pancreatic cancer include:

⦿ Age: Pancreatic cancer is most common in people over the age of 65.
⦿ Smoking: Smoking is the leading risk factor for pancreatic cancer.
⦿ Obesity: People who are overweight or obese have an increased risk of pancreatic cancer.
⦿ Diabetes: People with diabetes have an increased risk of pancreatic cancer.
⦿ Family history: People with a family history of pancreatic cancer have an increased risk of developing the disease.

What are the Staging and Stages of Pancreatic Cancer?

Pancreas cancer is staged with the help of CECT Abdomen. The surgeon may ask for a CT Angiography to look for vascular involvement. In certain clinical scenarios, the surgeon may choose for PET-CT Scan which will scan entire body for tumour evidence. Blood CA 19-9 levels is a helpful marker in a non-jaundiced patient.

Staging of pancreatic cancer
What are the stages of pancreatic cancer
Pancreas Cancer is staged from stage 1 to stage 4. Stage 1 will have a better survival as compared to stage 4.
Stage 0: Cancer is only in the top layers of pancreatic duct cells.
Stage 1: Cancer is localized to the pancreas.
Stage 2: Cancer may have grown into nearby tissues.
Stage 3: Cancer has spread to nearby lymph nodes.
Stage 4: Cancer has metastasized to distant organs.

How is pancreatic cancer diagnosed?

Pancreatic cancer is often diagnosed using a combination of tests, including:
⦿ Imaging tests, such as CT scans and MRI scans, to create pictures of the pancreas and other organs in the abdomen.
⦿ Biopsy: A biopsy is a procedure to remove a small sample of tissue from the pancreas for testing under a microscope.

What are the tests for the Pancreatic Cancer?

Pancreatic cancer is diagnosed based upon the CT Scan finding of mass in head region or periampullary region of pancreas. EUS(Endoscopic Ultrasound) guided biopsy can confirm the nature of the disease. ERCP(Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangio Pancreatography) is used to place a stent in bile duct if there is a need to reduce the jaundice.
EUS for pancreatic cancer treatment
ERCP for pancreatic cancer treatment

What are the treatment options for pancreatic cancer?

The treatment options for pancreatic cancer depend on the stage of the cancer and the patient’s overall health. Treatment options may include:
Pancreatic cancer surgery

Surgery

Effective for localized cancer, not spread to other organs.

Chemotherapy for pancreatic cancer

Chemotherapy

Uses drugs to kill cancer cells, used before or after surgery or as the primary treatment.

Radiation therapy for pancreatic cancer

Radiation therapy

Kills cancer cells with high-energy rays, used sometimes before or after surgery or as the main treatment when the patient is unfit for an operation.

Targeted-therapy-for-pancreatic-cancer

Targeted therapy

Targets specific molecules in cancer cell growth, often combined with chemotherapy or radiation therapy. Used in advanced disease.

Immunotherapy

Immunotherapy

For advanced pancreatic cancer.

How to reduce the risk of developing pancreatic cancer?

There are many things people can do to reduce their risk of developing pancreatic cancer, including:
⦿ Screening for pancreatic cancer, if you have a family history
⦿ Quitting smoking
⦿ Maintaining a healthy weight
⦿ Eating a healthy diet
⦿ Exercising regularly
 
If you have a family history of pancreatic cancer, talk to your doctor about your risk and whether you should be screened for the disease.
Dr. Harsh J Shah

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